Automobile lock, coil, and housing therefor



W. F. BEVILL AUTOMOBILE LOCK COIL, AND HQUSING THEREFOR June 24:

Filed Nov. 1, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m MN &% @Q Q. muMN f7wenr: William/E3606,

June 24 1924. 1.498305 w. F. BEVILL AUTOMOBILE LOCK, COIL, AND HOUSING THEREFOR Filed Nov. 1, 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24 1924.

W. F. BEVILL AUTOMOBILE LOCK, COIL, AND HOUSING THEREFOR I5 Sheets-Shoot 5 Filed Nov. 1, 1922 Patented June 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,498,965 PATENT ()FFICE.

WILLIAM F. BEVILL, OF FORDYGE, ARKANSAS.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK, COIL,

Application filed November To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. BnviLn, a resident of Fordyce, in the county of Dallas and State of Arkansas, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Locks, Coils, and Housings Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for preventing unauthorized use of an automobile and one object is to provide a switch lock of the permutation type whereby the circuit can be closed only by a person knowing the combination of the lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby access to the switch except through manipulation of the lock will be prevented, and a further object of the invention to provide a closed container for the switch and the coil of the ignition system to which access can be had only by the proper operation of the switch lock. Other objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device.

Fig. 4 is a view of the working end of the container, partly in horizontal section and partly in plan.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly. in side elevation, showing the manner of manipulating the device to obtain access to the container.

Fig. 6 is a detail end elevation showing the means for locking the container head within the body of the container.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation viewing the opposite side of the end plate shown in Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive are views showing the opposite, faces of the several tumblers of the permutation look.

In carrying out my present invention, I employ a container consisting of a body 1 and a head 2 which fits snugly in the open end of the body with its surface flush with the end edge of the body. This container is cylindrical in the accompanying illustration but it may be angular in cross section, and, in actual practice, is given the form best suited to the particular automo- AND HOUSING THEREFOR.

1, 1922. Serial No. 598,347.

bile to which it is to be fitted. The coil 3 may be secured in the body in any couvenient or preferred manner and is shown as engaged in a wire loop 4:, the ends of which are passed through openings 5 in the body and twisted together. Said openings also provide convenient outlets for the circuit wires.

Upon the inner side of the end wall of the head is secured a lock case 6, the securing means consisting of screws 7 in serted through the end wall of the head into the front plate 8 of the lock case. The back plate 9 of the lock case is of vulcanite or other insulating material and upon the same are secured the switch members 10 having their lower ends fitted upon binding posts 11 which extend. through the back plate and have circuit wires indicated at 12, attached thereto. The upper ends of the switch members are arranged near each other but are spaced apart and formed with terminal ears 13 between which is engaged a circuit-closing key let when the motor is to operate. An opening 15 is formed through the back plate in axial alinement with the space between the terminal ears for a purpose which will presently appear. At the center of the back plate is secured a bearing sleeve 16 in which is rotatably fitted aspindle 17 which extends through the lock case and through an opening 18 in the end wall of the head, a milled knob 19 being secured on the free end of the spindle, as clearly shown. A dial 20 provided or produced upon the head 2 concentric with the spindle and an index finger 21 is secured upon the spindle to play over and cooperate with the dial.

A. master tumbler QZis secured upon the spindle with its hub 23 abutting the sleeve 16 and rotatably fitting in the front plate 8, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. Concentric with its hub, the tumbler is formed with a circular series of openings 2% in selected ones of which are engaged headed studs 25, and upon the front plate of the lock case is mounted a spring-pressed dog or click 26 in position to engage the openings 2% in the tumbler as they are successively brought into ali-nement with the dog by the rotation of the tumbler. Other tumblers 27, 28, 29, are rotatably fitted upon the sleeve 16 and each tumbleris formed with a circular series of openings 30 to receive studs corresponding in all respects to theopenings and studs of the master tumbler, the master tumbler, however,

having stud heads on its back only While the remaining tumblers have stud heads on both back and front. Spacing washers 32 are fitted upon the sleeve 16 between adjacent tumblers and at the rear of the in nermost tumbler to maintain the tumblers in such relation that the stud heads will properly engage and the washers are constructed to engage a groove 33 in thesleeve and be thereby held against rotation. A spring 34 is coiled around the sleeve between the back plate 9 and the rearmost washer and holds the tumblers in operative relation. A stop pin or lug 35 projects forwardly from the back plate 9 of the lock case into the path of the stud head on the back of the innermost tumbler to arrest the movement of the tumbler when the combination is to be broken. Each tumbler is provided with an opening 36 which is at the same radial distance as the opening 15 from the axis of the spindle. It will, therefore, be evident that if all the openings 36 be in alinement with the opening 15 and the terminals 13, the circuit-closing key 14 may be inserted and the necessary alinement of the openings cannot be effected unless the combination of the lock be known.

The circuit-closing key 14 consists of a metallic body of proper dimensions to fit snugly between the terminals 13 and ef fect electrical engagement therewith. The key i formed on or secured to a stem 37 equipped with a turning head or knob 38 and slidably fitted through a sleeve 39 having a knurled head 40, the inward movement of the stem being limited by the engagement of a flange 41 thereon with said head and the outward movement of the stem being limited by the impact of the key against the inner end of the sleeve. The stem is covered with insulation, as shown at 42, and the sleeve 39 is externally threaded whereby it may be removably secured in a thimble 43 secured in the front plate 8 of the lock case in alinement with the opening 15 and projecting through an opening provided therefor in the end wall of the head 2.

At diametricallyopposite points, I secure within the head 2 resilient locking arms 44 which extend longitudinally of the head and project through the open end thereof.

These lockin arms are arovided at their D free ends on their outer sides with lugs 45 adapted to engage behind an annular looking flange or rib 46 on the inner circumference of the body 1 thereby securely locking the head in the body, and it will be readily noted that the locking arms are completely concealed within the container so that tampering therewith is prevented. Secured upon the back plate of the lock is bracket 47 below and in mesh with the worm 48 is a worm shaft 52 having its ends disposed within and in threaded engagement with barrels 53. The outer ends of these barrels are provided with notches whereby they may be slidaibly engaged in longitudinally extending slots 54 in the locking arms 44, and, to facilitate such engagement, the slots terminate, adjacent the inner or rear ends of the locking arms, in circular enlargements 55 through which the ends of the barrels may be inserted or withdrawn.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus having been thus made known, it is thought the manner of using the same will be readily understood. The combination of the permutation lock may be changed at will by shifting the I studs 31 to different openings 30 in some or all the tumblers and the lock is opened by rotating the spindle 1'7 alternately in opposite directions whereby to transmit motion from the master tumbler through the series of tumblers by the engagement of the stud heads on the opposed faces of the tumblers and bring the openings 36 in the tumblers successively to the top. The extent of movement necessary to set the tumblers will be determined by the relative positions of the studs and shifting of any stud will obviously change the combination. With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3, the motor may operate as long as fuel is supplied. If the car be stopped, the key 14 is withdrawn until stopped by the sleeve 39 and the lock spindle 1? is rotated in either direction as far as possible which will be until one of the studs on the innermost tumbler impinges against the stop pin 35. The combination will thus be broken, and imperforate portions of the tumblers will be presented to the key so that the key cannot be inserted until the tumblers are again set by working the combination. Every time an opening in the master tumbler passes under the dog 26, a clicking sound will be heard and the operator may followthe combination by counting the clicks.

' \Vith the key 14 withdrawn and the combination broken, access cannot be had to the container as it is free of projecting parts and the head is locked in place by means disposed entirely within the container. Inasmuch as the coil and the switch are both necting them are not accessible and cannot be manipulated. If repairs should be necessary or it be desired to change the combination, the sleeve 39 is rotated so that it will withdraw from the thimble 43 thereby removing the circuit-closing key. The key 50 is then inserted into engagement with the socket 49 and is rotated so as to rotate the worm 48. The worm 48 will, of course, actuate the worm shaft 52 which, in turn, will cause the barrels 53 to ride inwardly, it being understood that the end portions of the worm shaft are reversely threaded. The inward movement of the barrels 53 will pull the locking arms 44 inwardly and will release the lugs 45 from the locking flange 46 whereupon the head of the container may be withdrawn from the body thereof. An unauthorized person, however, cannot effect the separation of the head from the body of the container, inasmuch as the key 50 cannot be inserted unless the tumblers have their openings in alinement and they cannot be brought into such position unless the combination of the lock be known. It will thus be seen that I have provided a compact device which will effectually prevent the unauthorized operation of a motor and use of an automobile on which it may be installed.

It will be readily noted that there is ampl room in the container for the coil, the switch, the s itch lock, and the conductors connecting the switch and the coil. In as sembling the parts, the electrical connections between the coil and the switch are first made, and the coil is then slid into place in the body of the container, suthcient length of wire being provided to accommodate the movement of the coil relative to the switch without breaking the connections. The switch lock and the parts associated therewith are secured in the head and the head then inserted in the open end of the body, the locking arms 44 riding automatically into engagement with the flange 46. As the head is inserted, the conductin wires fold or double on themselves so as to accommodate themselves to the space within the container.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a container consisting of a body and a head fitting snugly within one end of the body, a switch in the ignition system carried within the head, means for locking the head in the body, said switch and said locking means being operable from the same point of the head, and a permutation device carried by the head and controllin access to the switch and said locking means.

2. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a container body, a head fitting snugly in one end of the body, means in the head for looking it in the body including a rotatable member disposed longitudinally of the head, switch members having terminals adjacent the end of the said rotatable member, said rotatable member and said switch members being engageable by a key inserted through the end of the head, and means within the head and controlled from the exterior thereof to prevent or permit the insertion of a key.

3. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a container body, a head closing the end of said body, means carried in the head to engage the body and lock the head therein, said means including a key-engageable member, a key-engageable switch located adjacent and alined with the said key-engageable member, and means controlling access to said member and said switch and comprising a plurality of tumblers each having a single opening adjacent its edge, and means operable from the exterior of the head to shift the tumblers and bring said openings therein into alinement forming a keyway leading to the key-en gageable member and the switch.

4. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a container, a closure therefor, means for locking the closure in position, a pair of switch members mounted in the container and having spaced terminals, a key insertable from the end of the casing between said terminals to electrically engage the same, and means within the con tainer operable from the exterior thereof to permit or prevent the insertion of the key, said key being removable to permit access to said locking means.

5. In apparatus for the purpose set forth,

the combination of a container, a closuretherefor, means for locking the closure in position, switch members mounted in the container and having spaced terminals, a thimble mounted in the end of the container in alinement with the space between said terminals, a sleeve threaded into the thimble, a removable key adapted to engage said spaced terminals, a stem extending from the key and slidable through the sleeve and insulated therefrom, and a stop flange on the stem to impinge against the outer end of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

IVILLIAM F. BEVILL. 

